The Kansas City Royals (19-52) and Detroit Tigers (30-40) open up a 3-game set Monday at Comerica Park. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Tigers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tigers lead 2-1.
The Royals enter this series having just won 1 game in their last 10 and 4 in their last 20. Their 19 wins are tied for last in the bigs. C Salvador Perez has still had a decent season hitting .268 with 14 homers and 37 RBIs and SS Bobby Witt Jr. is also coming into his own with 11 homers and 21 steals.
The Tigers just took 3 of 4 from the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins over the weekend. They sit just 5 games out of 1st place now. It has been a rough stretch for Detroit as well though, as they’ve won just 6 of the last 20 games. They hope to get OF Riley Greene back from the IL soon after he opened the season nicely with a .296 average, 5 homers and 18 RBIs before being sidelined at the end of May.
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Royals at Tigers projected starters
RHP Jordan Lyles vs. RHP Reese Olson
Lyles (0-11, 6.89 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 6.7 K/9 in 79 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds
- Last 3 starts vs. Detroit: 1-2, 3.74 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 17 K in 21 2/3 IP
Olson (0-2, 6.08 ERA) makes his 3rd start and 4th appearance. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9 in 13 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 3 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K Wednesday against Atlanta Braves
- Has not faced the Royals
- Features a 95-mph fastball, slider, sinker, changeup and curveball; opposing hitters have just a .111 OBA on his heater
Royals at Tigers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:39 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Tigers -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (-155) | Tigers -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Royals at Tigers picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 5, Royals 3
Moneyline
The Tigers are the clear favorites here with one of their top prospects on the hill. They are a bit better at home at 15-18 as opposed to 15-22 on the road. However, I’m still not really comfortable dropping -150 on them. The Royals have some young talent, and one could argue there’s more to be excited about from their side than Detroit’s.
Even while allowing 5 ER in each of his last 2 starts, Lyles still completed 6 and 7 innings in them. He threw a complete game against the Tigers late last season in his last start against them. I’ll take JORDAN LYLES OVER 15.5 OUTS (-135) and look for him to get at least 1 out in the 6th.
Run line/Against the spread
The Royals have the 3rd-worst bullpen ERA in baseball at 4.81. Detroit’s is 13th at 3.87. So I like Detroit to outlast the young Royals. The Tigers are 37-33 on the RL and 16-17 at home. That’s not bad for a team 10 games under .500. The Royals are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings with Detroit.
I’ll take the TIGERS -1.5 (+125) at home.
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Over/Under
This could go either way, but the weather shouldn’t be a factor. It’s projected to be 81 degrees with a 12-mph wind blowing toward the right field foul pole. K.C. is 4-6 O/U over the last 10, but Detroit is 8-2. The Over has cashed in Detroit’s last 4 home games. However, the Under is 20-7-1 in the last 28 meetings between these clubs in Detroit.
I like the UNDER 9 (-110) Monday.
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